Today we’d like to introduce you to Tayler Popalis.
Hi Tayler, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I originally started creating content because I genuinely love trying new products and sharing my opinions on them. I started using platforms like Skeepers and Influenster to discover and review products, and that eventually grew into me creating more consistent content around the things I was already interested in.
Before that, I was mostly just posting little pieces of my life online — nothing too serious, just things I was doing, places I was going, and whatever I happened to be into at the time. As I started posting more, I noticed that people really responded to the more personal, everyday content, especially anything related to Lancaster.
I’ve always loved Lancaster and there is honestly so much to do, see, eat, and experience here, so it’s been really fun to share that side of my hometown. I started getting more inbound opportunities from brands as my content grew, which was exciting because it showed me that I could actually turn something I started for fun into something bigger.
Now my content is a mix of product reviews, lifestyle, working from home, my pets, and a lot of Lancaster. I love that I don’t feel like I have to fit into one specific category. I can share a new product I’m loving one day and then be showing a Lancaster coffee shop, event, or random day in my life the next. I think that variety is what makes creating content fun for me, and I definitely want to keep using my platform to promote Lancaster and all the things that make it such a great place to live.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not! Growing on social media can be really difficult, especially when you’re starting from a smaller audience. TikTok and Instagram both have their own algorithms, and sometimes it can feel like you’re putting a lot of time and creativity into a post and then crossing your fingers that the right people actually see it.
One of the biggest challenges has been getting brands to take you seriously when you’re still growing. A lot of brands tend to start reaching out more once you have 1,000+ followers, so hitting 1,000 followers on TikTok in August felt like a really exciting little milestone for me. I just recently hit 2,000 on Instagram too, which may seem small in the grand scheme of social media, but both milestones feel like a big deal to me because I know how much work goes into growing an audience organically.
The hardest part is probably not letting the numbers discourage me. Sometimes I’ll post something I really love and it doesn’t get pushed, while something I threw together in five minutes does surprisingly well. Instagram can be especially unpredictable with reach, so I’ve definitely had to learn not to tie the success of my content to the number of views or likes it gets.
I’m still learning what works, trying to stay consistent across both platforms, and reminding myself that growth isn’t always linear. For me, the little milestones — hitting 1,000 on TikTok, reaching 2,000 on Instagram, getting a brand inquiry, or seeing someone visit a Lancaster spot because they saw it on my page — are what make it feel worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My content is a mix of lifestyle, product reviews, UGC, and local Lancaster content. I originally got into creating because I genuinely love trying new products and sharing my honest opinions, so product reviews are still a big part of what I do. From there, it naturally grew into sharing more of my everyday life — working from home, my pets, places I’m going, things I’m loving, and just the funny or random moments that happen along the way.
I’ve also really enjoyed incorporating Lancaster into my content. I love living here, and I’ve realized that people genuinely want to see what there is to do around Lancaster, whether it’s restaurants, events, local businesses, or just the everyday experience of living here. Being able to introduce someone to a place they haven’t been or give someone an idea for something to do is one of my favorite parts of creating.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t take my content too seriously. I want it to feel like you’re following an actual person rather than watching someone who has their entire life perfectly curated. I’m a little sarcastic, a little chaotic, and I like finding the humor in everyday life. I want my content to be useful, but I also want it to feel like me.
I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to take something that started as a hobby and build it into something that people and brands are actually paying attention to. I’m still a small creator and very much growing, but seeing my audience grow, getting opportunities from brands I genuinely like, and being able to promote a place I love like Lancaster has been really exciting.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is to just start. You don’t need to have your niche completely figured out or have the perfect camera, lighting, or editing skills before you start posting. I definitely didn’t.
I also wish I had realized earlier that you don’t have to wait until you have a huge following to take yourself seriously as a creator. Start building your portfolio, try different types of content, reach out to brands you genuinely like, and take advantage of platforms like Skeepers and Influenster that can help you get experience creating content.
And honestly, don’t get too caught up in the numbers. That’s probably easier said than done, because I still have to remind myself of this! Some videos will do really well and others won’t, and it doesn’t necessarily mean one is better than the other. You’re learning every time you post.
Most importantly, make content that you actually enjoy making. I think people can tell when you’re forcing yourself into a niche just because you think it will perform well. For me, the content that feels the most natural — whether I’m reviewing a product I genuinely love or showing someone around Lancaster — is usually the content I’m happiest with. You’re going to change and evolve as you create, so you don’t need to have everything figured out on day one.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylerpopalis?_r=1&_t=ZP-99tejpixLri
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylerpopalis?stkn=MW9mcGpyeXo0eXZiNQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
